Susan’s show horse, however, winning ribbons, bridles, buckles, and even a saddle,” Edgar says. Gentleman’s career had its ups and downs. Edgar
remembers that during one show Susan was working Gentleman in a round pen and he decided to jump out. Unfortunately he caught his leg and sustained a bad cut. The injury developed into a nasty bout of cellulitis resulting in a 41 day stay at the veterinary hospital. Susan visited him every day, and thankfully he fully recovered. There were also what Edgar labels ‘mystery lamenesses.’
“Sometimes left front, then right front, then nothing. In the end two chips were removed, one from each fetlock,” he reports. Gentleman also developed occasional stringhalt, sometimes showing symptoms but appearing normal at other times. “This was a phenomenon they had not seen at U.C. Davis until now,” says Edgar with a chuckle. Edgar tells of one particular event that happened years
ago during a medal class. “Susan was riding Gentleman and they did not get a good distance. Susan told him to take the fence anyway, which he did, as he always would try for her, but it was not good. He tangled himself in the fence and Susan somersaulted over him landing on her head and breaking some parts of her vertebrae. Susan suffered much pain and a long recovery, but this year she
“ It’s not so much about the breeding or the performance career, but it’s about the close personal relationship we have developed with this guy. He’s become a member of our family.”
began showing Gentleman again.” Edgar boasts that he’s always ultra responsive to Susan
and that Gentleman is a horse that lives up to his name. “He’ll back up to a rail to let you on his back, and he’ll back up to a tree so you can pick apples. He even stays with you without need for tack to control him and obediently stands in his stall with the door open peeking out but never crossing the threshold.” Recently Gentleman developed a fever and appeared
to be in pain. They took him to U.C. Davis where they determined he had a bulging liver and thickening of the intestinal wall. The biopsy revealed a bacterial infection originating from inflamed intestines. The long term prognosis is good, according to Edgar. “As we doctor him to health again I have no doubt we will have many more good years to come. Susan and Gentleman will be back on course soon.”
62 November/December 2011
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